Land in the vivacious city of Tokyo and officially begin your holiday! You will have two nights here - plenty of time to sample authentic sushi and sip tea in one of its tearooms. Speed around the city on its famously efficient public transport so whatever you want to do, you will be there with a snap of your fingers.

Day 2

Tokyo - Mount Fuji and Lake Ashi Tour

Today your fully escorted tour will take you to the stunning Mount Fuji, a sacred site looped with walking trails and dotted with shrines. You’ll also ride the Hakone Sky gondola, with a chance to explore the active hot springs. At Lake Ashi you’ll take a boat across the still, peaceful water, enjoying the natural beauty of the Crater Lake before the high-speed Bullet train whisks you back to Tokyo.

Day 3

Yokohama - Embark ms Westerdam

In Yokohama, you’ll embark the wonderful ms Westerdam, a ship that successfully blends the finest elements of cruising heritage with a selection of modern innovations. It’s a superb choice for those looking for a leisurely pace of life at sea in exquisite surroundings, yet with stimulating activities and high-quality entertainment available.

Day 4

Hitachinaka

The city of Hitachinaka is blessed with a rich, traditional history, magnificent nature surrounding the area and delectable seafood. Head to the renowned Hitachi Seaside Park for spectacular views of fresh flowers of the four seasons, from tulips and nemophila in spring to ice tulips in winter. Take a stroll around the Pleasure Garden and board the Ferris Wheel for mesmerising views across the large gardens.

Day 5

Miyako

Miyako is known for its beautiful coastline, especially the popular Jodogahama Beach located on a scenic peninsula just north of the city centre. This beautiful pebbled beach, surrounded by rocky outcrops, is ranked among Japan’s top one hundred beaches. Embark a sightseeing boat to explore the cliffs and a half-submerged cave along the bay or, tickle your taste buds from the range of gourmet dining options, including the esteemed Miyako beef.

Day 6

Muroran

Famous for various scenic sights such views of the Hakucho bridge, illuminating the skies at night, and Cape Chikyu, where you could enjoy a spot of whale watching; you are able to enjoy the balance of both city and natural scapes. For city lovers, head to Mount Sokuryo for awe-inspiring panoramic views of the bridge and the city below, or if you’re more in touch with nature, pay a visit to Masuichi Beach for a glimpse of majestic falcons.

Day 7

Kushiro

From Kushiro, you can visit Kushiro Marshland, a designated national park and the country’s largest wetland and marsh habitat. This is the only place you’ll see endangered Japanese Cranes. Thanks to conservation efforts, you can now see over 1,000 cranes here - a spectacular sight as they dip and jump in pairs in what looks like a choreographed dance.

Day 8

At Sea (Cross International Dateline)

Celebrate when you cross the International Date Line as you have an extra day added to your wonderful cruise. These few days at sea gives you ample opportunity to experience all that your ship has to offer. Explore a wide range of delicious on board dining options - everything from a burger and fries by the Lido pool to the Pan-Asian flavours of Tamarind to the ultimate in refined and luxurious dining at Pinnacle Grill. A team of world-class celebrity chefs is charting an exciting course for dining across the Holland America fleet.

Days 9 -
12

At Sea

When it comes to activities on board ms Westerdam, much-loved favourites such as the Greenhouse Spa and fitness centre will ensure guests are well looked-after, while more recent introductions such as informative digital workshops and the brilliant Culinary Arts Centre add a new twist to the cruise holiday experience.

Day 13

Kodiak

A commercial fishing capital for Alaska, Kodiak has even more to offer when you stop here for the day. A melting pot of different cultures, from the native settlers to Russian occupation, discover an abundance of culture in the Alutiiq Museum. With spectacular scenery, you can also look at the local wildlife while ambling around one of its lakes.

Day 14

At Sea

Showcasing comedy, song, dance and more, the Mainstage presents performances and presentations that are sure to entertain and inform throughout your voyage. These include Holland America Line exclusives such as the BBC Earth Experiences live show Planet Earth II in Concert.

Day 15

Glacier Bay (Scenic Cruising)

Make sure you wrap up warm as you head into Glacier Bay for the next part of your cruise. Norwegian Bliss will sail through this bay so you can marvel at the jagged glaciers and snow dusted mountains. You can also enjoy these views from the comfort of the Observation Lounge to experience 180° views of the glaciers. Alaska is abundant with wildlife so see if there are any brown bears or sea otters on the shoreline too.

Day 16

Ketchikan

After you sail past the glacier cut landscape, you will dock in Ketchikan. While the surrounding trees and wildlife are huge drawing points, you could visit the Totem Heritage Centre where it holds the largest amount of unrestored 19th century totem poles. If you want to experience true Alaskan culture, you could venture to the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show or Creek Street, a street built entirely on stilts to merge with the valley’s rustic aesthetic.

Day 17

At Sea

During your days and nights at sea, you’ll find plenty on board to entertain you. The Vista Show Lounge lights up at night with superb live entertainment while Holland America’s Dancing with the Stars at Sea lets passengers get involved with the fun! Night owls will love the classy casino, open until late.

Day 18

Vancouver - Disembark ms Westerdam

Caught between the sparkling ocean and majestic mountains, Vancouver is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Its stunning scenery offers fantastic opportunities to see wildlife, from whale-watching around the Gulf Islands to spotting bears on Grouse Mountain but this easy-going city has many urban attractions too, including an exciting arts culture and some of Canada’s best culinary experiences.

Your Ship

ms Westerdam

The wonderful ms Westerdam offers the very finest elements of cruising heritage with the addition of some neat modern innovations that today’s passengers will love. The theme of ms Westerdam's art collection is Dutch heritage in the New World. Art ranges from paintings of historic Dutch ships, such as Henry Hudson's Half Moon, to a huge Indian silver-overlaid wood palace doorway. Contemporary pieces include an original Andy Warhol portrait. The Westerdam is a superb choice of ship for those looking for a leisurely pace of life at sea, yet with interesting activities and high-quality entertainment available whenever you want them.

Key Facts

Entered Service: 16/07/2003

Tonnage: 82,348

Number of Decks: 11

Passenger Capacity: 1,916

Total Crew: 817

Number of Cabins: 958

Wheelchair Accessible Cabins: Yes

Number of Pools: 3

Number of Restaurants: 6

Kids Club: Yes

Great places to visit on board:

B.B. King's Blues Club

Direct from Beale Street, B.B. King's All Stars bring the best of Memphis music to sea. From funky and fast to soulful and smooth, enjoy dancing and try specialty cocktails like the Lucille and Rock Me Baby.

The Mainstage

Showcasing comedy, song, dance and more, the Mainstage presents myriad performances and presentations to entertain and inform throughout your voyage, including Holland America Line exclusives such as the BBC Earth Experiences live show Planet Earth II in Concert.

Pinnacle Grill

Celebrate the days adventure in this intimate resaturant with signature recipes.